Air Quality Alert Issued For Greenwich Thursday

GREENWICH, CT — An air quality alert has been issued for Greenwich for Thursday, as high temperatures and high humidity help make air quality "unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to the National Weather Service and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

"Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors," writes the EPA on its AirNow website.

The alert is in effect from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, according to the NWS. "An Air Quality Action Day means that Ground Level Ozone within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards. For additional information, please visit the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Web site at http://www.ct.gov/deep/aqi."

People with lung disease, older adults and children, "are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air," writes the EPA.

Here is the National Weather Service forecast for Greenwich for the next few days:

Today: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 96. West wind 6 to 8 mph.

Tonight: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 11am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 70. Northeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 86.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Patch file photo